Music

On September 20, I found myself outside Brighton Music Hall for the first time in my six or so years of living in Boston, in line to see Idles, a punk band from Bristol, England that was in the midst of a tour for its sophomore album, Joy is an Act of Resistance. When a band releases a second album, there is a high level of anxiety that it will suffer by comparison to a successful debut album and the band will fade into obscurity (and join the ranks of other one-hit wonders). This is not the case for Idles; the new album has already received high ratings from critics that are claiming the album as a fresh take on the punk genre. The album delivers social commentary on the toxicity of the punk scene as well as the right wing’s take on immigrants. When the band started playing their set, its singer, Joe Talbot, slowly paced the stage staring down the crowd like a shark circling … [Read more...] about CONCERT REVIEW: IDLES AT BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

A show at the Paradise Rock Club in Allston, Mass., on June 9 was a collection of math rock bands from the last two decades, some old, some new. The band I was there for was Tricot, an almost entirely female math rock band from Japan. This was the band's second United States tour and, knowing the gamble of planning and financing an international tour, this would probably be my only chance to see them live. While waiting in line the majority of people were here for the headlining band, CHON.
The genre of math rock can easily be summed up by a unique tempo and switching time signatures, as well as stacking rhythm and lead parts as an extended fugue piece. It is hard to separate math rock bands’ timbres from one another. A pitfall that some bands fall into is that they will start to drift from the rhythm of the song and all the instruments will just start competing with each other instead … [Read more...] about Running the Numbers: Tricot at Paradise Rock Club, June 9, 2018

With summer just around the corner, three iconic bands are preparing to hit the road. Stone Temple Pilots, Bush and The Cult will be accompanying each other on the Revolution 3 tour. The Cult, a band of many controversies and sounds will be bringing there iconic sound and frantic stage antics to Boston on July 30. The mysterious group transcends the post-punk label of their early days through singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy’s ability to masterfully straddle multiple genres while reimagining their classic tracks. The Cult continue to keep their fans on surprised despite the fact that their most recent album was released two years ago. The band is currently practicing and curating the ultimate experience for their viewers. In an interview with Artscope Online, Ian Astbury, the lead singer of the Cult, discusses the sonic evolution of the Cult along with possible future … [Read more...] about MUSIC PREVIEW: IAN ASTBURY ON THE REVOLUTION 3 TOUR, THE SONIC EVOLUTION OF THE CULT AND MUCH MORE…

On April 19, I saw Funky Dawgz Brass Band at the Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub in Cambridge, Mass. I ended up at this specific show through multiple recommendations from friends who couldn't stop talking about the raw energy that the band blasts out of its trumpets, trombones, saxophones and tubas. My curiosity was piqued and I headed over to see and hear for myself. This a group that has spent years performing and touring around the country building its foundation on a certain tool in a musician's toolbox: call and response- one of the main pillars for early jazz, blues and gospel music.
The idea of call and response creates a stronger connection between the performer and the audience. This was fully on display in the Funky Dawgz's performance as they assigned different roles to various sides of the venue, including choruses and dance moves, with band members like a nervous … [Read more...] about A Portable Block Party: Funky Dawgz Brass Band at the Middle East

by Shem Tane ALLSTON, MA -- On the evening of March 5, sandwiched between two nor’easters, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to watch the band, Ezra Furman, led by its namesake, a Boston native turned nomad, perform at the Great Scott down in Allston. In an ever-shifting political climate and divisive political scene, Ezra plants their feet on the ground and spits back in the collective face of conformity. Their musical toolbox varies from performance to performance, with a backing band of drums, bass, saxophone, synth, guitar and electric cello. There is a certain grit to Erza's voice that dips its toes into the glam soaked pitch of T-Rex as well as the stale cigarette stained ramble of Tom Waits. As the set rolled on they announced to the crowd, “You thought we were fun, but turns out we were really just weird.” This statement was a comment on the success and … [Read more...] about COLD AND ALIVE: EZRA FURMAN AT GREAT SCOTT

By James Foritano Cambridge, MA — I’m occupying the cat-bird seat in the intimate recital space of Cambridge’s Longy School of Music at Bard College at a pre-performance interview with cast members of a new operetta, “As One,” which will be presented January 25-28 by the Boston Opera Collaborative at Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall.
The two male vocalists sitting at our conference table are young, intense, and talented. They are bursting with information about what it’s like to represent with their resonant baritones the existential struggles of a young man, a boy really, transitioning to a mature woman.
I’m trying to focus as much as possible on the sense of what they’re saying, but the sensuousness of their trained voices short circuits, repeatedly, my hard- headed note taking.
I’m rescued, anchored by an anecdote related to me by vocal coach Jean Anderson Collier, sitting to my … [Read more...] about THEATER PREVIEW: BOSTON OPERA COLLABORATIVE PRESENTS “AS ONE” AT PICKMAN HALL